Köstendilli Süleyman Şeyhî's "Etvâr-ı Hâcegân" (Text and analysis)

The purpose of this thesis was to give information about the life and works of the Köstendilli Süleyman Şeyhî who is the Naqshbandi sheikh and to examine his work called Etvâr-ı Hâcegân. In the first chapter of thesis, the life, works and mystical personality of Suleyman Shaykh was briefly given. In the second chapter Etvâr-ı Hâcegân was introduced and analyzed under thirteen topics. In the third chapter, the qualities of Etvâr-ı Hâcegân were presented and transferred to today's Turkish letters. Süleyman Şeyhî (Born: 1750, Death: 1820) is an important Ottoman Sufis and scientist, has lived in the territory of the country whose name is Bulgaria today, and he was influential in spreading Sufi life and Naqshbandi tariqa in the region where he lived. Köstendilli has written more than thirty books. One of them is Etvâr-ı Hâcegân. In Etvâr-ı Hâcegân, he explained the basic terms and the manners and methods of the Naqshbandi tariqa, and explained the important basic tasawwuf information for the benefit of the newcomers and the disciples (murids). Especially, he put emphasis on the concept of dhikr. He also made an explanation of the word of tewhid (the word of confession of Allah's One-ness/Allah's Uniqueness), the essence of the dhikr of İsm-i Celal (The name of Allah), the way of doing it and other types of dhikrs. He did not welcome the rabitah which accepted as equal to dhikr, which were recommended by some notable sufi leaders. He considered the principles of the quantity (vukûf-i adedî) and time of knowledge (vukûf-i zemânî) very important, conversely the other sufi leaders. While explaining the concept of etwar-ı salasah, he stated the attitudes of Nakşibendî murids as the Islamic confession of faith (The shahada), ism-i Celâl and rabitah. He clearly described the eight expressions (the words of sacred) and how to do khatm-i khwajagan (the khatm or recitation signifies the complete recitation of the Qur'an). Under the explanation of obedience, he also explained how to enter a tariqa and preach dhikr. Süleyman Şeyhî indicated how to do dhikr at dawn, how to make a vow, secrets of prayers and the power of sheikhs' breath. While he explained the benefits of dhikr and tariqa, he clarified how to obtain the path of divine love and fondness, and the light of religious knowledge how to do ascetic implementations in the tariqa's way. He explained on how the caliphate should proceed in sheikdom and stated that everyone in the position of guiding (murshid) should be perfect human being and that righteousness, sincere commitment, istiqâmat (right way) are all required attributes. Moreover, he provided essential information about dream interpretation, silsila (tariqa chain), the goals of creation and how to commit to Naqshbandi Tariqa. As a conclusion, Etvâr-ı Hâcegân which explains the characteristics of Naqshbandi tariqa, the importance of zikr and applying it and knowing that the purpose of the tariqa is to know and love Allah, was brought into the world of science today with this thesis.